Electrical switch mechanism.



tlNiriEl ELECTRICAL SWITCH M ECHANISM.

SPEQILFIGAATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,550, datedFebruary 18, 1902.

Application filed May 8, 1901.

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUBERT KRANTZ, a citizen of theUnited States ofAmerica, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, in theState of New York, have invented Improvements in Electrical SwitchMechanism, of which the following isa specification. n

The main yobject of my invention is to simplify and strengthentheconstruction of electrical switchboard connections andl theirswitches and to reduce the number of parts l and joints in suchelectrical connections.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a face View of a switch orpanel board embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a corresponding edgeview with the bus-bars in section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is adetached view of one of the cross-bars partiallyformed. Fig. 4isacross-sectional view on the line 4 4, Figs. 1 and 2; and Figs. 5 and 6are views of the metallic blades of l,the switch in process offormation.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A isv the insulating base-plate of theswitchboard or panelboard, which may be made of slate or other suitablematerial. .B and B represent two bus-bars, andC, C', C2, and Care fourcrossbars to which the bus-bars are alternately connected. S S are thejack-switches, hinged to lugs'D D, secured to the base-plate, andconnected by fuses F F to terminalsl f f. I have indicated thehinging-lugs and terminal plates at the lower part of the panel-board aswell as the topgbut for the sake of simplicity I have omitted theswitches at the lower part, since they would simply be dupli- Cates ofthose represented at the top of theV board. At the upper part I haveshown the two outer switches S S as closed and the middle one as thrownback to break connections. The bus-bars B B may be ofthe usualconstruction; but in order to reduce the number of electrical joints andto simplify the `construction I make the cross-bars C C, &c., in aspecial manner. I construct these bars C C', dto., so that they can beconnected directly to their respective bus-bars, and for this purpose Iform in that part of each bar which will come under the bus-bar to whichit is to be connected a U-shaped bend or upward loop c, Figs. 2 and 3,which can then be directly connected to the bus-bar by a Serial No.59,343. (No model.)

'screw 8 or other suitable means. The usual construction is to have aseparate connecting-piece between the cross-bar and bus-bar; but thatmeans two electrical joints, where by my invention only one is needed.Ordinarily the lugs with which the blades of the jack-switches makecontact to4 connect' up with the cross-bars are spring-clips fastened tothe ends of the cross-bars by screws or otherwise. To get rid of a jointor joints at this point, I make each lug a single blade, which I stampout of the same piece of sheet metal as the body of the bar C, as shownin Fig. 3, and I then bend these lugs up at right angles to thebody ofthe bar, as shown -in Figs. 1 and 2. The cross-bars C C have each fourblades 7`at the four corners; but the end cross-bars C2 and C3, Fig. 1,need contactblades 7 at one side only, as seen in Fig. 1. f

In the same manner each hinging-lug D is a single blade formed in onewith and bent up from its base-piecel d. By the direct connection ofthebus-bar tothe cross-bar and the provision of four contact-lugs 7 in onewith the body of the cross-bar I am enabled to supply current to fourdifferent switches with but the one joint-#at the screw S-between thebus bar and the ends of the lugs 7.

To cooperate with the single-bladed contact and hinging lugs 7 vand. Dthe hinged part of each jack-switch S is provided with pairs ofspring-clips carried by a block E2 of suitable insulating material,lsuch as slate. On each side of the block E2 is a pair of plates E andE', formed as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, as well as Fig. 1. Theouter plate E is 'stamped out of sheet metal, with wings e e, Fig. 5,whichl are bent at right angles to the body of the plate to embrace theedge of the block E2, Fig. 4. The ends of the plates E beyond the win gse have offset bends, as shown in Fig. 6 s o as to produce at the freeends of the plates spring-clips to embrace at one end the hinging-lugs Dand at the other the conL tact-lugs 7 of the cross-bars. The pairs ofplates are secured to the blocks by the wings e, as shown in Fig. 4. Thefree end of the block E2 of each switch may be provided or formed with asuitable handle e2. By conend and the contact end of the plates, Ipro-Vide a stronger and more rigid construction than the common form oftwo-blade jackswitch, where the blades are hinged at one end and unitedby an insulating cross-bar at the other end, allowing side play, due tothe elasticity of the blades, and involving danger of the blades beingbent and getting out of relation to the fixed clips.

I claim as my inventionl. In an electrical switchboard, the combinationof hinged switches carrying spring clips with cross-bars having at theiropposite ends contact-lugs, each a single blade, formed in one with andbent up from the body ofthe cross-bar, substantially as described.

2. In an electrica-l switchboard, the combination of abus-bar with across-bar connected to the bus-bar and having at its opposite endscontact-lugs, each being a single blade,formed in one with and bent upfrom the body of the cross-bar, and switches having clips to contactwith said blades, substantially as vdescribed.

3. In an electrical switchboard, the combination of four switches with abus-bar and a cross-bar connected to the bus-bar, said crossbar havingfour contact-lugs for said four Switches, each such lug being a singleblade in one with and bent up fromthe body of the bar.

4E. An electrical jack-switch, comprising an insulating base-platecarrying hinging-lugs, each a single blade in one with and bent up fromits base-piece, contact-lugs also each of a single blade in one with itsbase-piece, in' combination with the hinged part of the switchcomprising an insulating-block carryingI springfclips, to make the hingeconnections with said hinging-lugs at one end and to make contact withsaid contact-lugs at the other end, substantially as described.

5. The combination of thehinging and contact lugs of a jack-switch withthe hinged part consisting of an insulating-block having secured to eachof its opposite edges two plates between their hinging and contact ends,each pair of plates forming spring-clips, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

6. The combination of the hinging and contact lugs of a jack-switch withthe hinged part consisting of an insulating-block having secured toitsopposite edges plates with wings bent over and secured to said blockbetween the hinging and contact ends of said plates, the latter havingends projecting beyond the insulating-block for connection with thehinging and contact lugs.

7. The combination of the hinging and contact lugs of a jackswitch witha hinged part, consisting of an insulating-block having secured to eachof its opposite edges a pair of plates, one of said plates having Wingsto embrace the other plate and also the edge of the insulating-block tosecure the plates to the latter, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have 'signed my naine to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HUBE RT K RANTZ.

Witnesses:

ALMoN B. FULLER, JOSEPH A. NEWTON.

